Registration to open this week for virtual conference

Community invited to log on and Speak Out for Kids

Published: Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 24, 2014 at 7:35 p.m.

Early registration for the Children & Family Resource Center’s Virtual Speak Out for Kids 2014 Conference will begin Monday, and online “booths” will be open for viewing as early as Saturday.

Throughout the month of February, the Children & Family Resource Center is asking Henderson County residents to log on to the virtual conference to become more aware about issues facing the community’s children, offer feedback on how to address the issues, and connect with the people and agencies working to make the community a better place.

Sponsored by Pardee UNC Health Care and Pardee Foundation, this virtual conference is free to the public. The United Way of Henderson County will kicks off the session lineup at 4 p.m. Feb. 6 with a discussion on poverty and its effects on children.

Henderson County youth, nonprofits and agencies that deliver critical services to the children of Henderson County will share their perspectives on the challenges that exist in delivering five simple promises: Be a caring adult; provide safe places; provide a healthy start; deliver an effective education; and provide opportunities to serve.

Just like a normal conference, participants will be able to select a session that is meaningful to them or “visit” a booth to learn more about a nonprofit and ways to plug in and help the community. The big difference is that it is all conducted online.

“This virtual conference is a first for our community,” said Elisha Freeman, executive director for the Children & Family Resource Center. “It’s a way for us to reach people when it’s convenient for them, particularly high school students or working adults who can’t carve out five hours to participate in a community meeting.”

The conference will be accessible on a laptop, mobile device or tablet.

The center hopes to have as many as 700 people participating over the course of the next two months, both online and in person. Once the sessions air at their scheduled times, they will all go to video on demand and remain on the site throughout March.

The scheduled sessions will have the capacity for live text chat with the presenters. Once they go to video-on-demand status, they will allow for questions or comments with email follow-up.

The big community wrapup for the campaign will occur from 8:15 a.m. to noon March 1 at the Conference Hall on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College.

Participants are encouraged to register Monday via the 5PromisesHC.org website. A full schedule will be available on Saturday. To find out more, or to host a viewing party of one of the conference session, visit 5PromisesHC.org.

<p>Early registration for the Children & Family Resource Center's Virtual Speak Out for Kids 2014 Conference will begin Monday, and online “booths” will be open for viewing as early as Saturday.</p><p>Throughout the month of February, the Children & Family Resource Center is asking Henderson County residents to log on to the virtual conference to become more aware about issues facing the community's children, offer feedback on how to address the issues, and connect with the people and agencies working to make the community a better place. </p><p>Sponsored by Pardee UNC Health Care and Pardee Foundation, this virtual conference is free to the public. The United Way of Henderson County will kicks off the session lineup at 4 p.m. Feb. 6 with a discussion on poverty and its effects on children.</p><p>Henderson County youth, nonprofits and agencies that deliver critical services to the children of Henderson County will share their perspectives on the challenges that exist in delivering five simple promises: Be a caring adult; provide safe places; provide a healthy start; deliver an effective education; and provide opportunities to serve. </p><p>Just like a normal conference, participants will be able to select a session that is meaningful to them or “visit” a booth to learn more about a nonprofit and ways to plug in and help the community. The big difference is that it is all conducted online. </p><p>“This virtual conference is a first for our community,” said Elisha Freeman, executive director for the Children & Family Resource Center. “It's a way for us to reach people when it's convenient for them, particularly high school students or working adults who can't carve out five hours to participate in a community meeting.” </p><p>The conference will be accessible on a laptop, mobile device or tablet.</p><p>The center hopes to have as many as 700 people participating over the course of the next two months, both online and in person. Once the sessions air at their scheduled times, they will all go to video on demand and remain on the site throughout March. </p><p>The scheduled sessions will have the capacity for live text chat with the presenters. Once they go to video-on-demand status, they will allow for questions or comments with email follow-up. </p><p>The big community wrapup for the campaign will occur from 8:15 a.m. to noon March 1 at the Conference Hall on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College.</p><p>Participants are encouraged to register Monday via the 5PromisesHC.org website. A full schedule will be available on Saturday. To find out more, or to host a viewing party of one of the conference session, visit 5PromisesHC.org.</p>